Penguins sign 1st-round pick Despres

Despres, 18, was in training camp with the Penguins until being returned to Saint John of the Quebec Major Junior league, where the defenseman played the last two seasons.

Despres, the 30th overall NHL draft pick in June, was an alternate captain for Team Canada in the world under-18 championships earlier this year. He had two goals and 30 assists in 66 games for Saint John last season and was a plus-18 in 64 games as a 16-year-old player in 2007.